Page 6 of Prudence (Balfe Family #1)

He feigned offence. “No?”

I swallowed thickly. “Well, it hadn’t crossed my mind.” Liar. “But, uh, if you …”

His features softened while I wrangled with my fluster, unable to coherently finish what I’d been trying to say.

“What if I had plans to kiss you?” he asked then, gaze probing.

My eyes widened, and I suddenly wished for another rum and Coke, much heavier on the rum this time around.

Derek had always been friendly towards me when he’d driven me home from school, and sure, sometimes he’d say things that might be construed as flirtatious, but nothing like this.

Daytime Derek I could handle. Flirty nighttime Derek was another thing entirely.

“That … um, that would be—”

“Hey, Derek, want to dance?” a flirtatious voice asked. One of the girls from the group who’d been giggling at Aidan’s anecdote stood before us. She had long, wavy blonde hair and shiny pink lips and wore a sparkly pale mini dress that exposed her toned, tan legs.

In the middle of the room, Aidan, Tristan and a bunch of the other girls were dancing to some pop song. I’d been so wrapped up in Derek that I hadn’t even noticed. His sister and their American cousin had left at some point, and Theo and Rhys sat in the corner talking.

“No, thanks, Francesca,” Derek replied politely, and the fact he knew her name made me uneasy.

I wondered if they’d ever been together.

On our car journeys, he’d mentioned having a few past girlfriends, but I didn’t remember him ever speaking of a Francesca.

She didn’t attend my school, so she must’ve been a classmate of his from St. Mark’s.

“But I love this song,” she pouted. “Remember we danced to it last year at the spring disco?”

Okay, now I was feeling uncomfortable again.

I’d been relaxed ever since Derek’s reassurances that my outfit was fine back in the kitchen, but now, well, comparison was wheedling its way into my subconscious.

I wasn’t used to competing for a boy’s attention.

Especially not with girls who looked like Francesca—who was basically my opposite.

In a move that surprised me so much my eyes bugged, Derek shifted closer, his thigh pressing against mine as he slid his arm around my waist. “I’m here with Milly,” he replied evenly, sending her a pointed look, and some of her confidence deflated.

She rolled her eyes, casting me an assessing glance and finding me lacking if her expression was anything to go by. “Fine. Come find me if you get bored.”

With that, she tossed her hair over her shoulder and returned to dancing with the others.

“You don’t have to …” I started then trailed off, a small lump forming in my throat. “I know you promised to stay with me for the night, but you can go dance with her if you want to. I’ll be fine.”

Derek caught my chin in his warm fingers, his eyes holding mine when he replied, “I don’t want to dance with her. I want to stay right here with you.”

His gravelly tone had me bobbing my head as I swallowed. “Okay.”

He didn’t remove his arm from around my waist, still sitting so close the heat from his thigh was seeping into me and giving me funny, whirly feelings in my stomach. A period of quiet passed before he spoke again.

“So, how’s your dad’s recovery been?”

“Oh,” I said, taking a deep breath and glad for the subject change even though he’d started brushing his thumb back and forth over my hip.

The touch had tingles scattering across my skin.

“He’s gotten over the MRSA infection, but his immune system is still recovering, especially with his broken leg.

It’ll be another while before he’s off the crutches.

I’ve been rushed off my feet trying to take care of everything at home.

Dad normally does all the driving, and my mam doesn’t have a licence.

I have my learner’s permit, so I’ve taken over the driving while Dad sits in the passenger seat telling me everything I’m doing wrong.

” I paused to laugh sourly. “It’s been an experience.

I definitely can’t wait for him to be better, but at least I’m off school, which gives me more time to help around the house. ”

“If you need a lift anywhere, you can always call me,” Derek offered. “I’m not working this summer, so I’m free most days, aside from my morning runs and evening gym visits.”

“That’s very kind of you. I’ll keep that in mind.

” I paused, my eyes running over him as I allowed myself a moment to take him in.

He was looking directly at me, sitting ever so close, which was nerve-wracking to say the least, but he didn’t seem to mind me studying his face.

Honestly, it wasn’t fair for him to be this handsome up close.

“So,” I continued, needing something to break the tension.

“That’s what you’ve been doing all summer so far? Just working out?”

He smirked and swept a hand down his very fit torso. “Can’t you tell?”

“Well, I mean, you’ve always been in good shape.”

“Ah, so you have been checking me out.” He grinned wide. “I was beginning to wonder.”

“What? No! I wasn’t.” Liar, liar, pants on fire .

Derek’s grin deepened into a smirk, but he seemed to be enjoying my fluster too much this time to save me.

“I mean, obviously you are very handsome, and I have eyes just like every other girl in here.” I lowered my voice almost to a whisper. “Francesca would likely agree with me.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“Well, I’m glad you think I’m handsome, Camille,” he said, his tone deep and rumbly as it caressed my name, and he shifted closer. “Because I find you impossibly sexy.” Derek tilted his head, his gaze tipping over my lips before rising to make direct eye contact.

“Derek,” I breathed, my heart pounding so hard he could probably see the vein pulsing in my neck.

“Yes, Camille?”

“Is it okay if I don’t have a response to what you just said?”

His low, throaty chuckle seemed to vibrate in the pit of my stomach.

His hand clasped my shoulder as he gave a small squeeze before sitting back and allowing me some blessed space from his overwhelming intensity.

I’d never experienced this level of attraction with another human being, and all my normal reactions were inexplicably delayed.

“That’s perfectly fine,” he said at last, warm affection lacing his words.

“I might go use the bathroom,” I said then, needing a moment alone to recombobulate.

“Sure, it’s just outside to the right and down at the end of the hall.”

“Thank you. I’ll be back in a minute.”

I rose and was about to leave when Derek reached out to softly take my hand. “Hey,” he murmured, and my eyes met his. “If I’m being too forward, just say, and I’ll back off. I really like you, Milly, but I know I can be a bit domineering at times. It might be an eldest brother thing.”

“I don’t mind,” I replied, bashful. “I just get a little nervous when you say stuff to me, but in a good way.”

His expression morphed into something that was very male and very satisfied. “In a good way?”

I nodded, biting my lip, which only brought his attention back to that location. I squeezed his hand then said, “I’ll be right back.”

My heart raced as I left and hurried to find the bathroom.

I actually did need to pee, in addition to wanting some breathing space.

I couldn’t stop replaying all the ways he’d been looking at me tonight, not to mention calling me beautiful and sexy, telling me he liked me.

It honestly didn’t feel real. I was so lost in these thoughts that I completely forgot Derek’s directions.

The door to my right looked like it could potentially be a bathroom, so I opened it to check.

But then as I stepped through, I saw it was some kind of pantry or storage room for alcohol and non-perishables. Taking a step inside was my biggest mistake because a moment later what felt like an avalanche of freezing, icy cold water fell on top of my head.